Saying Goodbye to This, My Travel Blog

I published my first post on this blog on January 29, 2010, eight months after we started full-time RVing. Almost fifteen years later, I am posting this 590^th post. It is also my last.

The End of Our Travels

2018, we sold our RV and settled at Viewpoint in Phoenix, Arizona. We continued traveling via other modes, so I changed the blog title but retained the domain rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspost.com. 

These blog posts went viral (up to35,000 views) on this blog:

1. Debating the Pros and Cons of the RV Cruising Lifestyle
2. Operationalizing Phase 2 of RVing in North Carolina
3. Finding Christmas on Florida's Treasure Island
4. Going Up the East Coast
5. Turning Wounds into Wisdom: Georgia
6. Discovering More in New Mexico
7. Reliving WWII in the Philippines
8. Looking for a Base in Arizona
9. Traveling Light in an RV?
10. We RVed Fulltime for 8 Years. Here are the 10 Things We Learned
11. Leaving No Stone Unturned in the Canadian Rockies
12. 10 New Landmarks in Charming Mazatlan

The blog became a rich source of material for my two travel books: Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream and Cruising Past 70: It's Not Only About Outer Journeys. It's Also About Inner Ones.

My husband and I returned from our last trip together in May. He did not join me on a short solo trip to the Philippines in August. We also canceled our 16th-anniversary trip to Leavenworth, Washington. Yes, we will no longer be the wanderers we once were.

The Beginning of the End

In mid-2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was invited to write as an expert contributor for Travel Awaits, a travel magazine for the 50+ by the 50+. The magazine was experiencing a growth spurt at a time when no one could travel, but retirement dreams soared.

I needed more time to write for two publications, but I did not have the heart to deactivate my blog. Instead, I wrote articles for the magazine and republished them on my blog.

Of the 60+ articles I wrote, the following went viral (150,000+ clicks):

1. 6 Quaint Small Towns to Visit North of Anchorage, Alaska
2. 6 Charming Small Towns to Visit in Southern Alaska
3. 5 Things My Husband and I Practice in Retirement to Keep Us Young

Under the magazine's leadership, my writing improved. However, I discovered that having non-original content negatively impacted my blog. From 4,000 views per post, it dwindled to 1,000.

When travel returned, the magazine's readership fell. It was bought by new owners, who redefined the content with their writers. I am still on the roster but no longer actively contribute. They republished some of my articles, but all writers' retirement pieces were removed.  

As trips became less frequent, I began writing on my blog about other topics (retirement and renewal, health and longevity). After my leadership award, I also wrote about leadership and management. My views dropped to less than 300 per post. I am no longer true to my niche. My writing needs a new home.

A New Platform

While writing for Travel Awaits, I was unaware that the blogging world had also changed. The plummeting views have been traced to frequent Google algorithm changes, even for the most popular blogs. It wasn't just that I needed original content (although I am sure that contributed). Bloggers turned to newer business platforms.

Two of the most popular ones are Medium and Substack. 

Medium is a single membership model with over one million paid subscriptions. Editors recommend articles to their vast reader base. The onus is to write quality articles about in-demand topics.

On the other hand, Substack has four million paid subscribers distributed among its 20,000 or so writers, an average of 200 per writer. Writers are responsible for promoting their writing and signing up subscribers.

Gemini, Google's AI, helped me narrow my choice to one question: Should I spend my time writing quality articles or promoting my writing to subscribers? I don't have the time to do both, as I want to work on my two new book projects.

It is time to deactivate this blog, even if I have yet to decide. Goodbye, Blogspot, Google's blogging platform. Thank you for being a good home for my travel writing.

Thank you all for sticking with me through the years. I hope to see you again on my new platform or when one of my books is published. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Life on the Fast Lane, after 75

Last year, I turned 75 and joined the “elderly" demographic. I thought the next turning point would be when I turned 80. But here I am, just a few weeks after celebrating my 76^th birthday. My life has more changes: a focus on health, no travel, being homebound, family visits, and new writing directions.

More Attention on Health

When I turned 65, I celebrated being a “sexygenarian" (being sexy in the 60s), in the middle of all our exciting travels. At 70, I began to feel older as digestive problems flared up. We changed to slower travel.    

But now, health problems have become more challenging. Bill’s health issues have grown from cardiovascular to neurological. My hypothyroidism has been cured, but GERD still haunts me. Worse, my blood pressure and cholesterol levels have risen.

After the Blue Zones captured the world's imagination in Netflix’s “Live to 100” documentary, I became a student of longevity. Because we are more plant-based, I have dropped 12 pounds, and Bill, six. We also try to move and walk a lot. Hopefully, we are on the road to better health.  

Practically No Travel

After we returned from winter in Mexico, a San Diego celebration, a visit to Colorado in April, and a trip to Honolulu for the wedding of Bill’s first grandson in May, we have not traveled again. In August, we canceled our 16th-anniversary trip to Leavenworth, Washington.

Bill did not join me on a 10-day trip to Manila to receive an award and a two-day visit to my first great-grandbaby in Santa Monica. Regrettably, our traveling days are over. We will no longer be the wanderers we once were.

Being Homebound

We sold our car last December before we left for Cancun. We now travel around the valley on Uber rides, primarily for doctor visits. Everything is delivered via Prime, by the grocery, and the pharmacy.

Our resort life has become busy. Every Thursday, I play Scrabble at a neighbor’s home, host a poker session at home on one Tuesday a month, and have Filipino friends come to the house for mahjong one Sunday a month.

There are Photography Club and Painting Group meetings, line dancing classes, and Karaoke sessions. Finding new, healthy, and flavorful recipes is a constant delight. Now that my dwarf Meyer has given me 110 lemons this year, new plants will be added to my garden in the spring.

Outreach projects have become easier to follow through on. Last month, our Fil-Am Gala project successfully raised funds for deserving UP students after meeting via Zoom throughout the year.

A new cause has also engaged my attention. I have become a participant in an NIH-funded study managed by the Mayo Clinic and Banner Alzheimer's Institute. It’s for the early diagnosis and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.  

More Family Visits

My son-in-law visited in May to help with the house improvements we needed, and my eldest daughter came down from San Francisco last month to help with my birthday parties and Christmas decor.

My two daughters' families in North America will come to celebrate with us in a couple of weeks, from Christmas Day to New Year's Day. I am renting another house to accommodate everyone.

Come and visit us. It has become the norm. Even if hosting is a bit stressful, I love doing it! I will cherish every visit.

New Writing Directions

With all these changes, I hardly write about travel anymore. Recently, my posts have been about leadership and management, inspired by the award I received last August. Health and longevity, retirement and renewal, and occasional reminiscences of our travels are other favorite topics.

My travel blog can no longer host these writings. My next post will discuss my plans for a new platform. In the meantime, new book projects have emerged. My MediterrAsian Kitchen: Cooking for Both Taste and Health is in the works and the idea for a fourth book about caregiving has taken shape.

Life can be in the fast lane, even after 75, even without travel. There are so many unrealized ideas. It feels like we are running out of time.

 

Getting the Job Done, Sustainably.

the first-ever transaction in MegaLink

I do not have any project management certification, be it PMP, CAPM, or CSM. Still, I have ensured that the job gets done in every assignment. I have used two tried and tested guiding principles in managing projects. 

The first is to clarify the project goal and then pursue it doggedly as a team. The second is to take a long view and to make project outcomes sustainable. Here are the practical implications of both.

Getting the Job Done

There are two parts to getting the job done. The first is clarifying the goal. The second is pursuing it doggedly as a team. The two are intimately connected.

In MegaLink, the Board's goal was clear: Launch ahead of BancNet. There was no time to waste, and the process of deciding when to launch had to be implemented from the very start. At monthly meetings with the Board, I reported about the technical bugs that were still present and the risks associated with launching with those bugs. It became their decision to launch.    

The BIR was also straightforward: Ensure the agency automation is widely supported. Acceptance must be so widespread throughout the organization that there would be no chance of sabotage. The change management dictated broad and targeted buy-in campaigns at all levels.

Only when a project goal is crystal clear will the entire team doggedly pursue it. Everyone on the team can quickly appreciate it. It gives you more time to explain why that is the goal rather than what it is. When they know why, they will do their part well. No one wants to derail a meaningful project.

This is especially true if the significance of your project is not readily apparent. Every project has meaning, and it can be traced to the organization's broader goals. You must find the connection and articulate it. When the meaning is thus exposed, it is easier for everyone to be motivated.

Making Outcomes Sustainable

This begs the question of ends vs. means. More is needed than getting a job done (ends). Every project manager has to ensure that the goal is achieved in such a way (means) that the sustainability of project outcomes is achieved.

This involves three aspects: ensuring the users' continued use of the system, safeguarding the organization's wealth to do more, and protecting the team members' health for continued work.

In MegaLink, we could have launched ahead of BancNet but done a sloppy job that the ATM cardholders discontinued using it soon after. Or we had to throw so much money into the project that the business of operating the switch could not be sustainable in the long run. Or the team members burned out that they left right after the launch (if not before), taking their knowledge and expertise with them. Maintenance becomes more problematic.

Similarly, BIR could have been launched with widespread initial support because of the buy-in campaigns. But what if it dissipated because the system proved too cumbersome? Given that the BIR project was the automation of a largely graft-ridden bureaucracy, widespread support must include the user’s enduring acceptance and use long after the launch.

In other words, how the system is built around the user's convenience will ensure sustainability. It is as important as the special change management programs to get buy-in or minimize resistance. 

Getting the job done is the stuff of project management. However, ensuring sustainability has become increasingly important as well. The principles that make these two happen remain front and center in my project management mind. Anyone on my team must do the same. They must dictate all our project decisions and actions. 

How to Make Informed Decisions with Today's Tools

 

Relying only on gut feelings or opinions when making decisions is no longer wise. With all kinds of tools to mine the massive data available, anyone can make better decisions. Informed decision-making has always been challenging but has become much more manageable today.

There are five steps to data-driven decision-making: 1) gathering relevant data, 2) organizing, cleaning, and formatting the collected data, 3) using statistical methods to analyze the data, 4) presenting the analysis in a clear and understandable format, and 5) using the insights gained to make informed decisions and take appropriate action.

What Tools I Use

Excel has been helping me make decisions, even at home. My children fondly call me Ms. Matrix. Here is an example of how my family uses it to decide where to go for a family reunion.

Each family nominates a destination and presents a description. With a simple matrix, we compare variables like sights to see, food options available, activities for children, weather, and travel costs.

Each variable is given an importance ranking (the rankings should total 100%), higher for the more important ones and lower for others. Then, each family rates each destination’s variable on a scale of 0 to 100. The average of the families’ ratings is the final rating.

	Importance	New York City	San Diego	Orlando
Sights for Adults	20	90	70	70
Food Options	30	95	85	80
Activities for Kids	30	70	90	95
Weather	10	70	90	65
Travel Costs	10	70	75	65
TOTAL	100

                 

Each variable’s score is computed by multiplying its importance by its final rating. The variable scores for each destination are summed up. The highest total score wins!

		New York City	San Diego	Orlando
Sights for Adults		90x0.2=18	70x0.2=14	70x0.2=14
Food Options		95x0.3=28.5	85x0.3=25.5	80x0.3=24
Activities for Kids		70x0.3=21	90x0.3=27	95x0.3=28.5
Weather		70x0.1=7	90x0,1=9	65x0.1=6.5
Flights		70x0.1=7	75x0.1=7.5	65x0.1=6.5
	TOTAL	81.5	83	79.5
	RANK	2	1	3

 

They used to wait for me to lead the discussion. Today, any of my daughters can build matrices. They caught the bug and retired me.

I use two other tools for discussion and visualization. Mind mapping is great for brainstorming and exploring different possibilities. I branch out as far from the center as possible.

Decision Trees are diagrams that display different consequences at each fork or decision point. It helps present various scenarios for comparison and visualize all the possible outcomes.

More Tools and AI

Aside from simple spreadsheets, you can also use statistical software like SPSS for statistical analysis, platforms to help manage and analyze large datasets, and data mining tools to discover hidden patterns in the data.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming crucial since it can be used for all these steps. It can:

1. Automatically collect data from various sources and clean it to remove inconsistencies and errors,

2. Use advanced statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to identify patterns, trends, and correlations within large datasets that would be difficult or impossible for humans to spot.

3. Predict future outcomes based on historical data, helping businesses make informed decisions about marketing campaigns, product development, and more.

4. Analyze text data, such as customer reviews or social media posts, to gain insights into customer sentiment and preferences.

Using intelligent generative prompting, you can iterate until you are satisfied that all aspects have been covered. This allows you to invoke AI in the entire decision-making process!

In the past month, for example, it has helped me decide to shift my writing to another platform (more on this in a future post). I used 36 iterations, driving down details of why, how, where, what, and when to do it.

However, human judgment and expertise are still essential to use in conjunction with it. Review what AI did and verify that the data is correct, there are no gaps, and decisions are ethical. And, if you like, follow AI’s example and take a second opinion: your own.  

Understanding, Preventing, and Reducing Burnout

at one of my last talks in Manila, already very thin

When I turned 54, my sister passed on, alone and lonely, from cancer. I did not want to die like her, so I felt I had to change the trajectory of my life. Besides, burnout was starting to rear its ugly head.

After I got off the career bandwagon and retired early, I migrated to America. My eldest and two beloved grandchildren had already moved there to join her husband and their father.

It is helpful to revisit what happened to me. Understanding the factors that led to my situation allows me to uncover strategies that could have prevented burnout. Sharing them may help you prevent one.

Understanding Burnout

I had dwindled to a skinny 101 pounds when I entered the US. Burnout is a serious issue that can lead to physical and mental health problems. 

It often occurs when an individual feels more than overwhelmed. It can be a combination of exhaustion and disillusionment. 

In hindsight, I should not have taken the one-two punch of SAP and BayanTrade. My work at the BIR was meaningful and manageable. However, my savings had been depleted as pay in government was tiny.

The money, perks, and accolades offered by SAP proved hard to resist. But I walked straight into a burnout waiting to happen. 

Preventing Burnout

I should have done the following:

1.   Listen to My Heart

At the time, my eldest was already working, my second daughter had graduated and was job hunting, and my youngest was about to graduate from college.

If I had been smart, the time to simplify my life would have arrived. There was nothing more I had to prove. The cues were there. I did not have to return to the private sector.

Instead, I should have returned to teach in DAP's Master in Public Management Program and the Master in Business Administration Program of the University of the Philippines College of Business Administration.

The government and the academe are gentler work environments. In the process, I could have completed my Doctorate in Business Administration. And I thrive in a scholarly undertaking.

2.   Listen to My Body

To make matters worse, in the middle of my stay in SAP, I went into menopause. I would have benefitted from a mentor who reminded me of self-care, prioritized my health, and learned to say no.

Again, I did not take this cue. Foolishly, I made the same terrible mistake and accepted the BayanTrade offer.

Reducing Burnout

If I had been more forward-looking, I would have implemented burnout prevention or mitigation strategies as soon as I joined SAP. 

1.   Promote Work-Life Balance in the Office

I should have introduced flexible work arrangements and addressed workload concerns. The company could have also provided resources for fitness, relaxation, and counseling programs.

These are components of a more sustainable work environment. I would have been the first beneficiary, and other employees could have benefited.

2.   Reduce Personal Commitments

Promoting work-life balance is not the sole responsibility of the company. I was also responsible for focusing on the job and family. These two are complex enough.

I should have minimized extra-curricular activities in professional associations. I could also have postponed my doctoral studies.

3.   Ask for Support

I wrongly thought CEOs were supposed to be superhumans able to withstand all kinds of challenges. At lower levels, higher executives support anyone in navigating the challenges. The same is true for CEOs.

But I was too embarrassed to ask. Worse, I thought I would be punished. Distance prevented me from building closeness with the SAP regional team in Singapore. And, unlike MegaLink, I had yet to develop open and honest communication with the BayanTrade board.

Burnout is a real issue. It is essential to take care of oneself first and foremost. If you are overwhelmed, exhausted, and disillusioned, take a break. It can allow you to reflect, recharge, and regain your footing.

Acknowledge what your heart says, listen to your body, promote work-life balance, reduce your outside commitments, and ask for support. By addressing the underlying causes of burnout and prioritizing your well-being, you can stay in your role and enjoy it longer. 

Managing Time in a Fast-Paced World

How do you manage time today? Is it even possible? In fact, with dizzying distractions trying to grab our attention every minute, it has become even more essential.

Classic time management principles are still relevant, but new techniques are emerging. The best strategy is to combine them and see what works best for you. It is also wise to realize that managing time in the office differs from managing time in a remote location. The good news is that, with good time management, you can combine vacation with work.

Classic and Emerging Time Management Approaches

In the 1980s at the Institute of Advanced Computer Technology, we became a distributor of seminars and tools by Time Management International. The following are some of the classic time management principles we advocated:

1. Identify the most important tasks and focus on them first.

2. Allocate specific time slots for different activities.

3. Create To-Do Lists of tasks to be completed.

4. Set deadlines to ensure timely completion of tasks.

But today's dizzying speed has led to an awareness that time must be managed even more. Many new approaches, tools, and techniques have emerged, seeking productivity and efficiency for better work-life balance.

Here are some of them:

1. Practicing mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve focus.

2. Utilizing productivity apps and software to organize tasks, track time, and set reminders.

3. Monitoring time spent on different activities to identify those that waste time and those that optimize productivity.

4. Grouping similar tasks to improve efficiency and reduce context switching.

5. Assigning tasks to others to free up time and increase productivity.

6. Adopting the Pomodoro Technique of working in focused 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks.

7. Using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize based on what are both important and urgent.

8. Considering the long-term consequences of time management decisions.

Combining the old with the new makes for the most effective time management strategies. But you must experiment and select the ones that will work best for you. Lastly, remember to accommodate unexpected events and changes in priorities, crucial for staying productive in a fast-paced world.

Time Management in the Office vs. a Remote Location

While the core principles of time management remain the same, managing time in an office environment can differ significantly from managing time in a remote location.

An office provides a structured environment with an established daily schedule including fixed start and end times. Work and personal space are physically separated, making it easier to focus on tasks.

It also provides more social opportunities with colleagues, such as welcome breaks or reminders to stay on task. Conversely, however, they can also mean distractions or background noise.

On the other hand, working remotely introduces a more flexible schedule which can be both a benefit and a challenge. It becomes essential to set a personal routine that works.

Since there is no physical separation between work and personal space, chores, family members, or pets can be distractions. Working without colleagues, however, leads to feelings of isolation and a lack of motivation.

The key differences are in structure, boundaries, distractions, and sources of interaction. The bottom line is that remote work requires more self-discipline, the need to set limits, and the ability to stay engaged.

Since 2018, we have been in a home in Viewpoint Golf Resort.  I was recruited to write for an online travel magazine that targeted the 55+ community. During this time, I also published a second book.

With my established routine, I could work four to six hours daily. I make all our meals, which are sacred times with my husband. My work is carved out of the hours after breakfast, say 7 a.m., until 10 a.m., when I prepare our lunch. The time after lunch,  about 1 pm until 4 p.m., is another block.   

I have an office but spend most of my time in the sunroom. It is sunshiny and looks out to the patio of many yellow flowers. As designed, it is distinctly separate from the rest of the house. My husband knocks when he wants to talk!

The magazine seamlessly integrates everyone’s tasks with an Atlassian platform called Trello. This was how I interacted with the editors, administrators, other content specialists, the financial team, and others,  efficiently connecting all of us from different parts of the world.  

Combining Vacation Time with Productive Time

Before we settled in Viewpoint, my husband and I RVed full-time around North America for eight years. I turned some of this recreation time to work, producing a blog and publishing a book.

My second daughter, SVP of Eco Canada, an environmental think tank, demonstrates a better example. When she visits us with her family, she mixes work and vacation time, calling it a “workcation.”  

She establishes specific work hours in the guest bedroom. She uses technology to stay connected with her team and clients. They are informed about her limited availability and that response times could be delayed.

It's essential to be mindful of the potential challenges. Relying heavily on technology can create difficulties in an unfamiliar remote environment (which is not the case when my family visits us at our Viewpoint home).

The secret is she brings only prioritized tasks. Those are essential tasks that require immediate attention, the upper right quadrant of the Eisenhower Matrix. All other tasks are postponed until she returns. 

A "workcation" offers a change of scenery that can help reduce stress and improve focus. This can lead to increased creativity and productivity and a better work-life balance. You can use ordinary downtime to explore your destination and visit with family. 

Classic time management principles and new tools and approaches can improve life in today's environment, including working remotely and combining vacation time with work. There are plenty to choose from so you can find those that work best for you.

The Three Most Important Soft Skills You Can Develop

a meeting of the UPAA Board in Arizona

Hard skills are the technical abilities and knowledge needed to perform a job. Driving a car is a complex skill, for example. On the other hand, soft skills are personal traits that are just as important. If you are not the driver, for example, be a polite, patient, and helpful passenger.

Soft skills are becoming essential in the workplace. Together with good hard skills, you will have more skills than your colleagues and stand out. Three became extremely helpful when I sought to develop them.

The Three Most Important Soft Skills

Here are the top three soft skills that can help immensely:

Effective Communication

Clear and concise communication is the foundation of successful relationships and collaboration. It delivers what you intend to say well, avoids misunderstandings, and builds trust.

It includes paying full attention, clarifying issues, and providing constructive feedback. It also necessitates using simple language, avoiding jargon, and tailoring the message to the recipient.

Lastly, it is helpful to remember that non-verbal communication strengthens or detracts from your words. Body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions should not convey the opposite.

Problem-solving and Critical Thinking

We are brought into the workplace to do routine tasks and solve problems when they arise. Analyzing problems, identifying solutions, and making informed decisions is a big part of the job.

First, it demonstrates initiative. Brainstorming to generate a variety of ideas and solutions is a first step. It includes gathering sufficient data and evaluating information for decision-making.

Second, it means being able to adapt to change. Flexibility and openness to new ideas and approaches will help you find your way through analyzing problems and finding solutions.

Emotional Intelligence

This soft skill is crucial to building solid relationships and prospering in challenging situations. It involves understanding and managing your emotions while doing the same for others.

It requires self-awareness of how emotions usually influence behavior. It also requires empathy, understanding the feelings of others, and putting oneself in their shoes.

In addition, it means developing healthy coping mechanisms during stressful situations. While emotions are still poorly understood or managed, such situations can arise.

How to Develop These Soft Skills

NCR, IBM, and SGV-Accenture trained me well in hard skills. Fortunately, they also included basic training programs for soft skills. I tried to grow them more by joining organizations, attending special soft skills training programs, and reading books.

Joining Organizations

To improve my public speaking skills, I joined the Toastmasters program. This ongoing workshop helps people develop confidence, clarity, and persuasiveness in oral communication. The program also gives much practice time for active listening, nonverbal communication, and conciseness. Most of the lessons apply to all types of communication. Being concise has helped my writing.

Both the debate format and the table topics (for impromptu thinking) became vital in developing problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Evaluating others’ speeches and program participants was a weekly opportunity to practice emotional intelligence.

Aside from Toastmasters, other organizations, including those I was allowed to lead and a couple I even founded, gave me more opportunities to practice all three soft skills. I recommend joining groups like alumni associations, industry associations, or groups in a parish.

Attending Helpful Training Programs

There are special workshops that provide more than the essential soft skills training programs offered by companies. If you can, look for special programs on:

Informed Decision-Making

Creative Thinking

Thinking Outside the Box

Structured Problem-Solving Techniques (such as root-cause analysis, mind mapping, or decision trees)

Mindfulness and Meditation (Stress Management)

Assertiveness Training (the Middle between Aggression and Passivity)

When you choose a training program, consider your learning style, goals, and budget. Also, select those led by experienced trainers. Finally, make sure you spend your time and money on those that provide opportunities for practice and feedback as part of the program.

Reading Books

Reading articles and books is my go-to learning style. Reading allows me to take as much time as I need to mull over the ideas presented in the comfort of my chair or bed.

I asked Gemini to name the best book for each soft skill. Here is what the Google AI app gave me:

1. "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. This classic book may focus on communication with children, but the lessons apply to all relationships.

2. "Think Like a Freak: The Radical Economics of Everyday Life" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. This book challenges conventional thinking and encourages readers to approach problems from new perspectives.

3. "Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ" by Daniel Goleman. This groundbreaking book explores the importance of emotional intelligence and offers practical strategies for developing it.

But I was most pleased with Gemini's last recommendation. As I mentioned in my article on personal branding, the book was my Bible when I was working in the Philippines.

Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" offers timeless principles for self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication. I read and reread the book and was even asked to deliver talks about it.

By developing these three essential soft skills, you will be better equipped to succeed in your career. They will help you build strong relationships with superiors, colleagues, and clients in whatever size of a setting.