Authenticity

This category is where I am quite raw - posts like my brother's stroke, money that didn't show up when I needed it, doubts about whether any of this is working, written the way it actually happened. It's not pretty here, but it is me.

Even My Discipline Was an Escape?

09 Aug 20265 min readAuthenticity 13

Busywork can be a clever escape hatch from your true goals. I thought I was disciplined, but I was just avoiding my real work.

How I Lost My Writing Home

22 Jul 20267 min readAuthenticity 2

Leaving WordPress for GrooveFunnels stopped me from blogging for years. Buggy software made me avoid my site, but I finally found a way back.

A person holding a glass of water, patiently watching an hour glass run down to its very last grains of sand.

Day Three of My 72-Hour Water Fast

03 Jan 20263 min readAuthenticity 10

On day three of a 72-hour water fast, keeping momentum gets tough. Here is why skipping lunch led to a surprising breakthrough.

A hand opening a fresh, blank notebook at a cluttered desk.

A Traitor Lives Inside My Brain, and I Let It In

26 Dec 20252 min readAuthenticity 53

Learned helplessness made me freeze whenever I tried to take action. I wasn't lazy; my brain was protecting itself from past regret.

Do You Believe in Yourself?

03 Sep 20252 min readAuthenticity 44

Despite completing 12 months of water fasts, self-doubt stayed. Here is what happened when I chose to show up anyway.

Do You Want to Keep Him Alive?

28 Aug 20252 min readAuthenticity 72

Facing a heavy DNR decision for my brother tested my limits, but I had to keep showing up. Here is what it taught me.

After 10 Years, I'm Once Again an "Ex-Con"

21 Jul 20252 min readAuthenticity 34

I was offered a promotion with prestigious clients, but turned it down. Here is why working longer hours felt like a losing trade.

Jesus heals my brother, and he runs towards Him

Bringing Luke to Church

31 May 20251 min readAuthenticity 19

Bringing my younger brother to church during his illness wasn't easy, especially when he wanted to stay home. Here is why we persist.

I Cried at 41 Years Old

31 May 20252 min readAuthenticity 23

Watching actors perform my brother's stroke recovery story broke something open in me. What caregiving actually looks like.

41-Year-Old Asher Photoshoot

17 May 20252 min readAuthenticity Personal Branding 43

At 41, I completed all 3 modules of the ACLP course. Here is how I celebrated after a sleepless night of preparation.

Showing Up Isn't As Fancy As Announcing Results

12 Apr 20252 min readAuthenticity 28

Fasting, a course, a brother's health scare, and a 10th year in the same stage role. No big win this week, just showing up.

Crushing Work and Course While Fasting

03 Mar 20254 min readAuthenticity 39

Feedback went from being called too slow to genuine praise, while juggling night classes and a fast. Here's what actually changed.

I'm Uncertain About the Future

01 Feb 20252 min readAuthenticity 32

Nas Academy's programs are pausing, and so am I. Stepping back from teaching to enroll as a student again, right when I need it.

I Was Told I'm Too Slow But How I Reacted Surprised Even Me...

07 Jan 20253 min readAuthenticity 17

On day four at a new job, I was told I was too slow. How I responded surprised even me. A lesson in asking for help.

I Quit My Job Twice Because of One Girl...?

02 Jan 20253 min readAuthenticity 38

A relationship that ended a decade ago led me right back to the same company. How sharing my story, flaws and all, got me the job.

Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick

28 Dec 20242 min readAuthenticity 48

I tracked 13 goals for 2024 and hit only 4. What I learned about sharing goals publicly versus keeping them private.

The Cow and the Tiger

13 Dec 20242 min readAuthenticity 14

An old parable about a cow and a tiger reminded me: not every kind suggestion is one I should take. Staying true to myself.

Thank You for Standing By Me

06 Dec 20242 min readAuthenticity 90

My father took a cleaning job at his age, still feeling like it wasn't enough. A hard year ending on an unexpected note of hope.

I Am Feeling Completely Defeated

29 Nov 20242 min readAuthenticity 196

Lost savings, missed deals, financial struggle for two decades straight. I'm not writing this for pity, just being honest.

Man Feeling Emotional Looking At A Photo

I Wish This Photo Never Happened...

08 Apr 20242 min readAuthenticity 23

A healing service, a beautiful photo of my brother, and a strange truth: his stroke brought us closer than we'd ever been.

Video

From Video Diary Failure to Spiritual Triumph

02 Apr 20243 min readAuthenticity 21

A daily video project I abandoned, a brutal fast, and then my father responded to an altar call after 21 years of prayer.

40 Days, No Sugar, Done

25 Mar 20241 min readAuthenticity 18

I finished a 40-day no sugar fast combined with exercise, but feeling constantly weak showed me I messed up somewhere. Here is what changes.

Recovered Too Late, I Missed The Creator's Summit

08 Dec 20232 min readAuthenticity 8

Missed the creator meet-up recovering from COVID, but a conversation about poverty and a secondhand bookstore visit stuck with me.

What Happens When You Read Your Own Personal Development Advice 15 Years Later?

27 Nov 20231 min readPersonal Development Authenticity 8

Writing goals down was supposed to change everything in 2009. After failing since 2008, a look at old advice shows what actually matters.

What If You Had To Speak For 5 Minutes In Front Of Speaking Professionals?

23 Oct 20232 min readAuthenticity 26

After finishing a 60-day content challenge, I entered a speaker competition. A misunderstanding forced me to speak unprepared...

Unfollow Now: My 60-Day Challenge Begins

31 Jul 20233 min readAuthenticity Marketing 48

Posting content regularly is the only thing I can control. Here is why I am committing to a 60-day challenge today.

On the Passing of Coco Lee

06 Jul 20233 min readAuthenticity 22

Her passing left me speechless. A personal reflection on depression, mental health, and why reaching out matters more than we admit.

My Brother Is A Fighter

10 May 20231 min readAuthenticity 59

Two weeks in hospital, damaged eyesight, a spotty memory. Yet the notes he scribbled during physio say everything about his will.

Rebalancing Duty and Crisis: Luke's Readmission to the Hospital

26 Apr 20231 min readAuthenticity 93

After 119 excruciating days in the hospital, 4 great days at home ended suddenly with signs of another stroke. An urgent update on Luke Aw.

After 119 Days, My Brother Is Finally Home

21 Apr 20232 min readAuthenticity 65

After a second stroke and 119 days in the hospital, my brother is finally home. But the journey back wasn't as simple as waiting for him to heal.

Video

Thank You for Your Birthday Wishes, My Final Year in My 30s

11 Mar 20232 min readAuthenticity 56

Small wins in his recovery, financial assistance finally approved, and Chainsaw Man reruns at the hospital. A quiet birthday.

Video

Throwback to 2004: My First Solo Singing Competition

07 Mar 20232 min readAuthenticity 14

Fearing people would mock my voice, I entered a 2004 singing contest without telling anyone. What happened on stage shocked me.

Update on My Brother

18 Jan 20232 min readAuthenticity 45

My brother moved to a rehab hospital after a second stroke. Here is how his recovery is going and how we are adapting.

Update Since the Fall on Dec 23rd

11 Jan 20231 min readAuthenticity 50

After weeks in the ICU following a severe fall on Dec 23, my brother is taking his first steps forward in a general ward. Here is where things stand.

I Lost My "Virginity" Within 20 Days In 2022

20 Jan 20221 min readAuthenticity 21

Taught 300 people, welcomed a new nephew, and endured my very first nasal swab test. A quick, honest recap.

How Unremembered Books Still Shape Your Mind

11 Jun 20212 min readAuthenticity 34

Why reading physical books changes how knowledge becomes part of you, even if you cannot remember every page you have read.

Video

I Ignored My Brother's Warning Signs

04 Mar 20214 min readAuthenticity 105

My brother is fighting to recover from a stroke. I thought his symptoms were normal, but the real challenge was just beginning.

Video

Update for Brother's Condition

17 Feb 20211 min readAuthenticity 116

We deeply appreciate every prayer sent for my brother. Please leave a comment or words of encouragement to cheer him on.

Video

I Cannot Be Selfish Anymore

08 Dec 20203 min readAuthenticity 5

I refuse to take shortcuts in my business when money is tight. But watching my father age makes me question everything.

How Did I Know I've Had a Packed Week

31 Oct 20202 min readAuthenticity 43

Between a workshop, ad campaigns, coaching calls across time zones, and a TV drama shoot, I fell asleep on the floor.

Message in a glass bottle near rocky shores

Hey Asher, Shut Up

22 Aug 20204 min readAuthenticity Marketing 124

I offered feedback nobody asked for, got unfriended for it, and I'm still giving away the resource that started it all.

The White Stuff

08 Aug 20201 min readAuthenticity 25

I started getting grey hair as a 10-year-old. Instead of hiding it, I attached values like wisdom and learning to it. See where it led.

Video

Superstar Uncle Drama

16 Jun 20148 min readAuthenticity 3

Auditioning for Project SuperStar taught me some lessons for a busy month of June. This is a boring post. Don't bother reading.

My Confession: 5 Minutes As Judas

22 Apr 20146 min readTheatre Authenticity 18

To portray Judas, I dragged up past demons and dark thoughts. I thought I had it under control until the performance ended and tears took over.

Video

Firewalker Coming Through!

09 Sep 20094 min readPersonal Development Authenticity

I walked on fire at Tony Robbins' UPW Singapore, pushing my energy to level 110, but a mistake on day 3 made me miss the final day of the seminar.